Job Hunting? The Best Online Job Boards

Skip the big sites and head for these targeted spots.

By Kate Ashford

Your computer wherever it is is one of your most valuable job hunting tools.

Photograph: Photo by Quentin Bacon

Online job boards are a great way to find out about openings, but you can’t assume that every posting is legit. These days, job sites abound with listings by scam artists hunting for financial info. “You wouldn’t believe the number of calls we’ve gotten from people who’ve fallen for this,” says Pam Dixon, executive director of the World Privacy Forum. Warning signs: Ads that are incredibly vague (no company name, extremely broad job requirements), or an “employer” who pushes aggressively for you to sign a contract and furnish financial information without an in-person interview.

It’s also time to look past the big, catch-all job sites. “Monster.com is a great site if you’re entry level and don’t have a lot of experience,” says Michael Mellone, a senior consultant at outplacement firm ClearRock. For senior-level professionals, he says, industry- or executive-specific sites are the way to go.